It was formerly the capital of Albania (a status held by Tirana since 1920), and was the city in which the country's Declaration of Independence was signed on November 28, 1912.

[3] The air base is situated south of the city of Vlorë.

[5] The Albanian Air Force would not have established itself in Vlorë without the assistance of the Soviet Union.

The first pilot to fly in the Albanian forces was Petraq Polena, born in Korçë.

In 1955, the Soviet Union supplied 2 squadrons of jet fighters and Mig-15UTI trainers.